The University of Nairobi management discussed the possibility of adopting renewable energy with EP Global, a renowned international company specializing in renewable energy. The meeting took place today at Vice-Chancellors Committee Room today, February 12, 2015.

Dr. Tara Lindstedt, the Managing Director, EP Global Energy said that tapping into renewable energy will go a long way in reducing the power bills. They have been working with county governments like Kilifi, Nyeri, Migori, Marsabit. They have as well been working with health centres and institutions of higher learning across the country.

“At EP Global, we boast of transformation projects. These projects require academic engagements and it is only through academia that you can innovate,” she noted.

The key strategy being adopted by EP Global Energy is Community Social Responsibility, where they partner with the local communities to develop power systems that will power the health care and the education sector. The challenge facing the county governments according to Dr. Lindstedt is the provision of quality healthcare. This is hindered further by frequent power failure and in many instances patients lose their lives.

The key role for the university in this case would be the development of the human resource that will help in maintenance of already constructed power stations. EP Global energy aims at having the university become a showcase by adopting universal power and becoming self-sufficient. “You have so much solar, wind and you can become power-sufficient,” she added.

Prof. Isaac Mbeche, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs) who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Peter M. F. Mbithi agreed with Dr. Lindstedt that indeed a lot of resources get spent on power bills and it would be in order to adopt renewable energy.

On his part, Prof. Benard Njoroge urged EP Global energy to develop a prototype and they can begin working on a Memorandum of Understanding.

Tapping into the renewable energy like solar, wind will go a long way in helping the University of Nairobi achieve its Performance Contract indicators like cost reductions as a lot get spend on this power.